Network Rail Network Rail boss Mark Carne to step down this year Chief executive has been under pressure from government and move follows East Coast collapse Mark Carne was said by staff to be a popular figure who spent a significant amount of time with the workforce. Photograph: Anthony Upton/PAThe head of Network Rail is to step down later this year, with his position having come under increased pressure from government. The announcement of Mark Carne’s retirement comes just over four years after he joined the rail infrastructure company, taking over an ambitious but poorly costed programme of works that Network Rail soon concluded it could not deliver in full. It also follows the collapse of the East Coast franchise where Stagecoach, the parent company of Virgin Trains East Coast, has argued that delays to Network Rail works made its £3.3bn contract untenable. Grayling also applauded Carne’s moves to devolve power within Network Rail to regional routes, which the minister said would “build the foundations for a more efficient and passenger-focused organisation”.

Source: The Guardian February 06, 2018 12:02 UTC